This may be the single best-looking hand-drawn video game I've ever seen in motion. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a breathtakingly beautiful side-scroller. I was drawn to the game's visual stylings after watching pre-release trailers for the title, and it's even better looking when you see it in person and play it for yourself. The quality of the animation, the clean lines (highlighted by hints of pencil strokes), and colorful characters are second-to-none in modern gaming. Thankfully, the game's not all looks and no substance; there's a genuinely fun game underneath all of this exterior beauty. I'm enjoying the different creatures you inhabit (a fire-breathing dragon and a swashbuckling mouse so far), and the game is far more challenging than it initially lets on. Boss battles are a good bit of fun, and exploring the different levels for treasures and secrets give the game an air of discovery. It's also really interesting how this game, originally released in 1989, houses so many of the metroidvania genre conventions we've come to know and love, including light RPG systems, a degree of choice and non-linearity, and a progression system tied to the different creatures you unlock and gain access to. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap was clearly a game ahead of its time when it originally released on the Master System all those years ago. I'm really enjoying my time with the game so far, and I can't wait to dive in further and see what new levels and abilities I unlock. If you've yet to check out Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trapfor yourself, take a look at the video below and see what it's all about!

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Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch! The PC version will be available in June.